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A long-drawn battle

Bangalore: It has been more than a fortnight since the Karnataka High Court pronounced its judgment on the language policy. And both the parties involved — the unaided schools and the Government — are digging their heels in on their respective stands. While the Government is getting set to go on an appeal to the Supreme Court, the unaided schools too are getting set for what promises to be a long counter-battle.

V.R.N. Reddy, Vice-President, The Karnataka Unaided Schools Managements Association (KUSMA), told The Hindu that they will now file a caveat. “The court will have to honour the fundamental and simple logic of letting parents choose the medium of instruction,” he said.

Mr. Reddy added: “We are offering education in English medium because the parents want it. We get no help from the Government and do this with a service motive. Instead of supporting us, the Government is only pointing fingers.”

He said that the unaided schools had proposed to the Government to make Kannada compulsory in all schools. “We are for protecting the State language. However, we want the medium of instruction to be in English,” he added.

Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, on the other hand, said that the Government would safeguard the State language “at any cost”. He said that the judgment would have a long-term effect on Kannada medium schools. “English medium schools will come up even in villages. That will definitely have an impact on Kannada medium schools.”

Mr. Kageri said that all the officers are examining the order and are discussing the grounds on which an appeal could be filed in the Supreme Court. “Discussions are happening at different levels,” he said.